Bidding for Sewri-Nhava link can commence by Dec; JICA to start public consultation for Metro projects
Mumbai : In a major boost for the transport and infrastructure projects in the state, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) reiterated its commitment to fund slew of mega projects in Maharashtra. Their assurances came during Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s ongoing visit to Japan. These projects include Metro projects in Mumbai and the much delayed Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL).
According to state government officials, these projects require Rs 60,000 crore of funds. JICA assured Fadnavis, they will kick off public consultation for Mumbai Metro project mid-September. After the meeting, Fadnavis tweeted via his CM Office Twitter handle, “Japan Intl Cooperation Agency(JICA) to start public consultation on Mumbai Metro next week and will also support the bullet train project.” The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority had chalked out a master plan for 118-km Metro network in the city which is estimated to cost Rs 35,400 crore.
Meanwhile, the 22 km Mumbai Trans Harbour Link that would connect the island city to hinterland by linking Sewri and Nhava, also got a push during Fadnavis’s visit. Chief Minsiter’s office tweeted, “JICA assured CM @Dev_Fadnavis to fast track funding for Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project so as to start bidding by Dec 2015.” He also tweeted, “We are happy that Minister Yoichi Miyazawa agreed to fast track the process for Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project.”
“According to the reports we have got from there (Tokyo, Japan), the assurance from Japanese government is encouraging. We are expecting JICA to fund 80 per cent of the total project 11,000 crore. So, it comes to around Rs 8,800 crore. MTHL is a key project for connectivity and decongesting Mumbai,” said a senior government official. JICA will loan at a nominal rate of interest of 1.4 per cent annually. Fadnavis proposed that the bullet train from Ahmedabad to Mumbai should go via Nashik, to which JICA agreed to study the proposal.
